Laguna Beach man is pleased to greet you

Michael Minutoli waves at people everywhere he goes. He has been homeless in Laguna Beach the past few years &#8211; a choice he made after scraping by with low-paying jobs. Local people offer him free showers, meals and coffee. ROSE PALMISANO, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

Minutoli on the mic

Now a voice on KX/93.5 FM on Thursday mornings, Michael Minutoli talks about the news and his party-crashing days, then does a round of karaoke – a favorite hobby.

He's a master at karaoke and "rapaoke," he said, because his song du jour is rap song "Empire State of Mind" by Jay-Z, featuring Alicia Keys. He performs it and others on Wednesday nights at Swallows Inn in San Juan Capistrano. He's been a familiar face there the past few years.

"The success in karaoke is the song you choose," he said. "You gotta choose a song that suits you."

He has advice for rookies. "I say choose a Bob Dylan song, because he can't sing either," he said with a laugh.

Almost every morning starts the same for Michael Minutoli. He walks to the "big Starbucks" next to the gas station on Broadway and orders a black coffee with whipped cream.

He might make small talk with locals on Main Beach. Then he finds his position at Forest Avenue and Coast Highway and assumes his role as Laguna Beach's greeter.

Minutoli said he first took the job three summers ago and is slowly earning his stripes in town.

"I think the two years I put into it is really paying off because there's such a great response, you know, a loving response. 'Keep it up' type stuff," he said with his Massachusetts accent. "Makes me feel good, like I'm doing something good for the city."

He admits he didn't know much about Eiler Larsen, Laguna's original greeter, when he set up shop across the street from one of Larsen's spots. He's found out he's a little different than the Dane with a beard and a cane. However, he has the same goal.

"If I can wave and smile – and when the sun's out, make people happy – it makes me happy," he said.

On a recent Wednesday morning, Minutoli showed up to his post in a captain's hat, red and white gloves and a red floral women's blazer from the Salvation Army in San Clemente. He said a woman once told him she thought it was rare silk worth $1,500 – but he's yet to have a bidder.

He plopped his leather knapsack next to him, plucked out his ear buds and MP3 player and got the greeting going.

"Hello," he said, looking at motorists buzzing through the busy intersection. He has different greetings for different types – "beep beep" for motorcycles and a sideways wave for buses.

"Good morning!" a woman hollered from a golf cart. "I like the new jacket."

The light turns red at the intersection.

"This is my cue," Minutoli said as he stepped off the curb a few feet onto the street. He stomped on some rubbish and twisted – a dance clearly invented by the man himself.

A LITTLE HISTORY

Waving at Minutoli from across the street is a bronze statue of the iconic Larsen, the sun shining on the bronze figure as it faces south on Coast Highway in front of Greeter's Corner Restaurant.

Though other greeters came before and after Larsen, he is the most revered – his face is brushed on canvas by artists, he is personified in two statues around town, he has a restaurant in his honor and a short city street in his name.

Born in Denmark, Larsen led an eccentric life left to novels – he sold butter in Siberia, hopped a freighter in South America and fought in France during World War I, according to an article in the Los Angeles Times.

Michael Minutoli waves at people everywhere he goes. He has been homeless in Laguna Beach the past few years – a choice he made after scraping by with low-paying jobs. Local people offer him free showers, meals and coffee. ROSE PALMISANO, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Michael Minutoli draws mixed reactions as he waves to tourists and locals on the corner of Forest Avenue and Coast Highway in Laguna Beach. He has been the city's self-appointed greeter the past few years. ROSE PALMISANO, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Michael Minutoli offers greetings to motorists and pedestrians in Laguna Beach. ROSE PALMISANO, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
As part of his routine, Michael Minutoli likes to get his face and bald head painted by Laguna Beach artist Star Shields before assuming his role of self-appointed town greeter. ROSE PALMISANO, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Michael Minutoli, right, and Laguna Beach artist Star Shields share a laugh as Minutoli checks his latest facial adornment. ROSE PALMISANO, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
As part of his daily routine, Michael Minutoli stops by the Laguna Beach Net-Works church to check in with pastor Don Sciortino, right, and pick up his belongings. ROSE PALMISANO, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Michael Minutoli takes a break at the Laguna Beach Net-Works church. ROSE PALMISANO, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Michael Minutoli likes to chase the waves at the beach during a workout before going to greet people on the streets of Laguna Beach. ROSE PALMISANO, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER
Michael Minutoli greets beachgoers while chasing the waves during his workout routine. ROSE PALMISANO, ORANGE COUNTY REGISTER

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